Time for UMass hockey to appreciate home cooking

Photo by J. Anthony RobertsBig UMass hockey crowds have not translated into wins

In the last 77 home games at the Mullins Center, the University of Massachusetts has a solid 43-26-8 record, but the home-ice advantage has lost its influence in recent times.

Despite a record home gate last year, the Minutemen were only 8-7-0 at the Mullins Center. And in two games there this year, they have only a loss and a tie. So that's 8-8-1 in the last 17 home games.

Perhaps part of the reason is that there have been so many big game, big crowd nights at the Mullins Center that the players have gripped the sticks too tight, and were a bit too excited. But in any event, it's got to change.

The Minutemen have recruited around speed, and they have the larger ice surface to make it work. So they need to take their gifts and put them to use at home because they are at a disadvantage in the smaller rinks on the road where the physical game has more importance, and UMass is not a big team.

A good time to start would be the non-conference game against Army Friday night.
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